Forget burpees — you only need 1 kettlebell, 3 moves and 25 minutes to work your entire body

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This quick Kettlebell workout is a full-body torcher

Kettlebell workout: Man performing a kettlebell swing outdoors against a white wall
(Image credit: Getty images/ Unknown)

You can forget burpees — this three-move kettlebell workout is all you need to build strength and muscle in your legs, core, back and shoulder muscles. Depending on your fitness level, this should take no longer than 25 minutes to complete and will hit most of your muscles and all major muscle groups. 

The workout is featured on the Kettlebell Kings YouTube channel and shared by @cameronharn on Instagram. The brand deserves its King status, supplying some of the best kettlebells on the market and uploading fresh and intelligent content and workouts. Kettlebell Kings said, “if you’re short on time today, this single kettlebell workout will cover all basis very quickly.” I couldn’t agree more. 

The workout forms a three-exercise circuit, but how you complete it is up for interpretation. Aim for 10 reps per side of the first and third exercises and eight reps per side of the second— complete four sets of each with 30 seconds between the movements and 90 seconds between sets. You could attack all reps and sets of one exercise for a more traditional resistance training workout.  

Try to spend no more than 90 seconds on each exercise to keep the intensity high, but if you want to spend longer on the workout, you should still be able to complete it within 30 minutes. Try to work your muscles through their full range of motion, squeezing and pausing at the top of each exercise to feel your muscles working at their maximum. 

If you enjoy working out with kettlebells, this kettlebell workout only takes 15 minutes to work your entire body, and you can fire up your abs using this beginner-friendly ab kettlebell workout. Check out the video below to see the exercises in action.  

Watch Kettlebell Kings' three-move single kettlebell workout 

Here’s a breakdown of the workout:

- Single-arm plank to row (10 right arm / 10 left arm x 4)

- Rotating press (8 right arm / 8 left arm x 4)

- Single-arm swing (10 right arm / 10 left arm x 4)

Kettlebells are by far my favorite way to train. Using a kettlebell regularly as part of your training plan could improve balance and coordination, build power and muscle all over, and even improve your maximal strength. 

For example, a study by the Journal of Strength and Conditioning found that just six weeks of biweekly kettlebell training could increase maximum and explosive strength (think heavy squats and sprints). It even recommended including kettlebells in strength and conditioning training plans for coaches to train their athletes. 

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Kettlebells require a certain amount of skill, so I recommend learning how to use them before beginning a new kettlebell program. For example, the weight should never smack against your forearm, and if it does, this indicates a lack of control over the move. There’s quite a lot of wrist action involved in more complex kettlebell exercises but try to keep a relaxed grip rather than squeezing too tightly. 

I recommend learning how to do a kettlebell swing with proper form before trying a single-arm swing if you’re not familiar with the exercise, as you’ll need even more control over the traveling weight. The video explains how to do each exercise, but focus your attention on controlling the entire range of motion. 

For example, during the kettlebell row, squeeze your lats and other back muscles as you drive your elbow back and pause for a second — this is the concentric phase of the movement as your muscles contract. As you lower the kettlebell (the eccentric phase), do so with control and count for three seconds. Here’s how to do a single-arm dumbbell row if you’re unsure. 

To spice things up (as if the workout needs it), set a timer and try to complete your reps within the same time limit every round. Just don’t blame me if you melt to the floor afterward!

Next: Find out how I got on when I tried this 30-day kettlebell challenge workout to build strength, and our fitness editor did 100 kettlebell swings a day for a week. Also read how this fitness writer did 100 dumbbell chest presses a day for a week — and here's what happened.

Sam Hopes
Sam Hopes
Fitness Editor and Coach

Sam Hopes is a level 3 qualified trainer, a level 2 Reiki practitioner and fitness editor at Tom's Guide. She is also currently undertaking her Yoga For Athletes training course.

Sam has written for various fitness brands and websites over the years and has experience across brands at Future, such as Live Science, Fit&Well, Coach, and T3.

Having coached at fitness studios like F45 and Virgin Active and personal trained, Sam now primarily teaches outdoor bootcamps, bodyweight, calisthenics and kettlebells.

She also coaches mobility and flexibility classes several times a week and believes that true strength comes from a holistic approach to training your body.

Sam has completed two mixed doubles Hyrox competitions in London and the Netherlands and finished her first doubles attempt in 1:11.